Connector



June 28, 1960 1. F. MATTHYSSE CONNECTOR Filed April 25, 1958 11 FIG. 2

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INVENTOR. Irving F. Matthysse moans United States Patent CONNECTOR Filed Apr. 23, 19 58, Ser. No. 730,312

1 Claim. (Cl. 287-49) My invention relates to clamp-type connecting devices and, more particularly, an electrical connector device which may be used as a T-connector, end-to-end connector, and which is especially adapted to connect a main conductor and a branch conductor at right angles to each other.

While it is extremely desirable to utilize identical clamping members to form the electrical connector, it is also desirable that the final connector is suitable for use over a wide range of electrical conductor sizes. In the prior art where the clamping members Were identical, the connector was not suitable for use where each conductor varied over a range of wire diameters, or, in other words, the final connector was not range taking.

The principal object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a connector that may be used to join at least two elements which consists of two complementary clamping members interlocked in such a manner that it is suitable for joining a varying range of element diameters.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connection in which a pair of crossing conductors are joined together in such a manner that the clamping force is applied symmetrically to all the conductors.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an electrical connector suitable for clamping a range of cable sizes and which is formed of two complementary members.

The invention may comprise a pair of identical clamping members, each including a pair of nonintersecting grooves at right angles to each other on difierent levels and means to join the members together in a complementary manner so as to cause the opposing grooves to cooperate with each other and form a pair of conductor seats which are each adjustable to accept a wide range of conductor diameters.

I accomplish these and other objects and obtain my new results as will be apparent from the device described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the attached claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of my invention comprising an electrical connector;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the electrical connection using the connector of my invention and illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, numeral comprises a clamping member having a pair of grooves 11 and 12. The grooves 11 and 12 are nonintersecting and perpendicular to each other; in other words, they are formed at right angles to each other at ditferent levels. Each groove 11 and 12 is formed of greater arcuate sections 13 and 14 and lesser arcuate sections 15 and 16. A hole 17 is disposed between the two levels of the grooves 11 and 12 and extends in a ice direction crossing the axis of the grooves ll and 12 and between the two levels. A clamping member 20 provides the second portion of the connector of my invention. In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawing, the clamping member is identical and disposed complementary to the clamping section 10. The clamping member 20 includes two non-intersecting crossing grooves 21 and 22 formed at different levels. Each of the crossing grooves 21 and 22 has a greater arcuate section 23 and 24 and a lesser arcuate section 25 and 26. A bolt hole 27 is also provided in member 20 at a level between the grooves 21 and 22. Means for joining the two members 10 and 20 together is shown to comprise a bolt 30, a locking washer 31 and a nut 32.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, a connec tion joining two conductor elements crossing at right angles,- utilizing the connector of my invention is therein shown. Members 10 and 20 are disposed in a complementary relationship with their respective grooves 11, 12 and 21, 22 opposed in cooperating relationship to form seats for the conductor 33 and 34. The conductor 33 is positioned in groove 11 in such a manner that the greater arcuate portion 13 may encompass a majority of the circumference of the conductor. Conductor 34 is symmetrically disposed in groove 12 of the member 10 such that the greater arcuate section 14 encompasses the conductor. The complementary member 20 is then positioned such that its groove 22 is opposed to groove 11 of member 10, while its groove 21 is opposed to groove 12. The opposed grooves may totally encompass each of the conductors 33 and 34, and the greater arcuate section 24 of the member 20 projects toward the lesser arcuate section 15 of the member 10.

In a similar manner, the greater arcuate section 13 projects toward the lesser arcuate section 26, and the greater arcuate section 23 projects toward the lesser arcuate section 16, while the greater arcuate section 24 projects toward the lesser arcuate section 15, and the greater arcuate section 14 projects toward the lesser arcuate section 25 to form interlocking sections.

Obviously, the cable 33 can be of a wide range of diameters, and members 10 and 20 can be clamped about said member to engage the conductor. As the seat for conductor 33 adjusts, the two grooves 12 and 21 slide along each other axially of the conductor 34, so that as the clamping means are tightened, tight engagement is achieved around both conductors. The converse of this action is also true, so that the seat for conductor 34 may also be adjusted to accept a wide range of diameters and the connector of my invention will accommodate a wide range of conductor sizes. The interlocking projections provide means to prevent the rotation of the members 10 and 20.

Thus it is apparent that by utilizing a pair of clamping members joined together diagonally between the conductors, a cross connector is formed which is capable of taking a wide range of conductor sizes. By the foregoing construction I have provided a compact cross connector adapted to serve a wide variety of cable sizes. By the provision of interlocking projections of the grooves, I have created a connector made of a single part which is duplicated to form a self-aligning piece when installed on conductors permitting the insertion of the bolts into the aligned apertures, reducing the cross strain on the bolts and parts.

I have thus described my invention, but I desire it understood that it does not confine to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention and, therefore, I claim the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities, within the scope of the a I 3 v appended claim, and by means of which, objects of my invention are obtained and new results accomplished as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to obtain these objects and accomplish these results. v

i I claim:

A connector for joining at least two elements comprising 'a pair of identical co-operating clamping members, each including a pair of nonintersecting grooves at right angles to each other on difierent levels, each of said grooves having a greater arcuate wall portion and a lesser arcuate wall portion such that the greater arcuate wall portion of one groove of one of said members co operates with the lesser arcuate wall portion of the other groove on the other member to clamp a line therebetween and means to joining said members along an. axis angularly disposed to said grooves and at a level between said different levels to draw said members together such that the distance'between one of the grooves on one of said co-operating members and ace-operating groove on the other of said members varies as the amount that the other grooves on said co-operating member overlaps the co-operating members.

References Cited in. the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,679,028 Gallman July 31, 1928 1,931,400 Williams Oct. 17, 1933 1,950,635 Steinmayer Mar. 13, 1934 2,216,344 Hampton a Oct. 1, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,678 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1915 

